Javanegra Gourmet Atelier's latest culinary idea, Biang Keladi, puts daily home-cooked meals on your table. Chef Andrea Peresthu brings a modern approach to Indonesian comfort food, giving tried-and-true recipes a new spin.

Its homey feel comes from a layout that resembles that of a traditional Javanese food stall, enabling families to come around the table for a meal together, even when there's nothing to celebrate.

Biang Keladi began as a pop-up booth and has since evolved into a full-fledged diner. The place showcases chef-founder Andrea's hometown pride by serving comfort foods inspired by his favorite meals as a child growing up in a culinary family in Jambi.

Its current location is hidden within Kem Chicks store in Pacific Place, giving a modern twist to a traditional warteg. Side dishes are provided on a buffet-style counter, only separated by a glass partition, while diners can see cooks making meals through the open kitchen.

The wood-clad interior, teal wall tiles, and indoor plants all contribute to the charming ambiance as if one were in their own living room.

The image is supported by their menu, which features a modern take on classic Indonesian dishes, including Nasi Campur, Soto Betawi, and Mie Kocok. Each dish is cooked with style and taste unique to Javanegra while still faithful to chef Andrea's childhood recipes.

Unlike their earlier restaurants, Daun Muda and Planta, Biang Keladi's down-to-earth dishes show that Javanegra isn't just for epicureans but also for regular people who want to enjoy their foods.

Bright start

It is not easy to begin a career as a businessperson. If you want to attract customers, especially in the food industry, it demands uniqueness and continuous innovation.

Lifetime experiences, such as Andrea's, can lead to such innovation. He is the driving force behind Javanegra Gourmet Atelier, a restaurant in Jakarta that specializes in Mediterranean cuisine.

Andrea has thrived as a chef and culinary businessman in Indonesia because of his experience and brilliant ideas.

Andrea graduated from Bandung's Parahyangan Catholic University with a bachelor's degree in architecture. However, Andrea didn't stop there. He chose to fly to Europe to further his studies and later received a Master's degree in Human Settlements from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. 

Andrea relocated to the Netherlands in the year 2000 to work as a researcher at the Delft University of Technology. His career took off, and from 2004 to 2008, he served as Secretary-General of the European Higher Education Consortium in Urbanism.

Brighter restart

After traveling through the Indonesian highlands, Andrea became interested in the culinary business world. He persuaded some farmers to plant coffee on the ground that had been logged illegally. Andrea eventually decided to quit the Delft University of Technology in 2012.

In order to support and promote Indonesian Rainforest Coffee, he founded Javanegra Coffee alongside Reni Alhadad. Motivated to create a range of cuisines after spending 12 years in Europe and visiting numerous restaurants, the chef renamed Javanegra Coffee into Javanegra Gourmet Atelier after adding a variety of Mediterranean foods to the menu list.

Andrea brought not only Mediterranean food but also traditional delicacies from Palembang, Manado, and other Indonesian cities. Now, he has opened more than 12 reputable restaurants just in five years. Atico, Daun Muda, Barrel, Puerta 26, Cielo, Base-Base, Planta, Segundo, Bombasteak, and Bakmi Mpek Tjoen are just some of his restaurants. You can find and try his culinary creations in Jakarta, Bali, and Yogyakarta.